Things to Know

New options for your grading. There are 4 new options for grading and withdrawal for the Spring 2020 academic term. Visit the New Grading Options webpage for more information and the Grade Method Change form.

How do I stay informed? Please check your College email often and/or visit this site for frequent updates.

Spring Commencement. The May 15 Commencement Ceremony will not take place in person at the Minneapolis Convention Center and alternative options are being considered at this time.

Student Laptop Checkout Program

Once approved, we will email students to let them know specific dates/times ITS will be on campus to hand out laptops. (All emails will be sent to their college email). Students must be 18+ years old and currently registered for Summer 2020 classes in order to be eligible for a checkout laptop.

Please note: there are a limited number of devices and can’t guarantee all requests will be fulfilled. Summer checkout laptops will be due back at the end of the summer semester.

For students that require access to computer labs on campus, the Academic Success Center in T. 3200 is open during campus hours. Study areas are also available in this area. Both areas have been configured to provide social distancing.

The Boynton Student Health Clinic is open and providing limited healthcare services with most medical and mental health visits being conducted via phone or online. Please call the clinic at 612-659-6384. Most services are provided at no cost to currently enrolled students.

The May 15 Commencement Ceremony will not take place in person at the Minneapolis Convention Center and alternative options are being considered at this time. This will be posted on the Commencement Ceremony webpage.

Students who have been working spring semester are encouraged to ask their supervisor about hours and resources for teleworking. Work Study students who are unable to continue working should make arrangements through their supervisor to ensure there are no interruptions in their payroll approvals. Funding is being secured to support student employees who are unable to work.

In his Stay At Home order, Governor Walz included higher education as an essential service (page 8 section q). Minneapolis College’s top priorities are the safety and health of our faculty, staff, and students as well as helping our students successfully complete their semester. Course delivery has been shifted to online and the limited areas of campus where students still need to access have been sanitized and reconfigured to accommodate social distancing.

There will be more options than usual for students who have unexpected absences due to COVID-19 during the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. These changes are being considered carefully as they may impact financial aid and academic standing.

For Spring Term, students will be given the option of changing their grading method from A-F or Pass/Fail to Pass/No Credit whenever possible

This will protect students’ GPA and relieve pressure on students at a time when lives are being disrupted and teaching methods are changing

You will be able to choose a grading method based for each course

You will have until after the end of the semester to make this change

Most but not all classes or students will be eligible

2) Expansion of Incomplete (I) Grade Option​

For individuals with significant disruptions in their lives due to COVID-19

For classes in which face-to-face activities are necessary for students to achieve the course’s essential learning outcomes or contact hour requirements but face-to-face can’t happen because of COVID-19

For first time, in Spring 2020, College will allow instructors to use Incompletes for internships/field experiences/clinicals/practicums

3) Extension of deadline to withdraw from courses​

The College is extending its deadline for students to withdraw from classes with a “W” grade

Not clear that a withdrawal would be a better option than a P/NC grade – we are still researching

It is important to contact your advisor before choosing to withdraw so you understand both the financial and academic impacts of doing so

4) COVID-19 indicator for grades on transcript

To provide more fair assessments of students’ academic success

For example: Pass/No Credit is designed to show whether or not a student met a course’s essential learning outcomes without an “F” that would potentially be an unfair representation of the student’s typical capabilities

To relieve students of unnecessary pressure at a time when there are so many other sources of stress in their lives

To give students low-risk options to continue their academic progress and avoid wasting hours/effort spent on the course already

Internet Essentials – Comcast is offering 'Internet Essentials' package free for low-income customers for 60 days. There is also an option to buy refurbished low-cost computers.

NOTE - Comcast announced Friday 3/13, it would open free public Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the country, as part of its response to the Coronavirus outbreak. It will also eliminate data caps for its customers.

Charter Communications is offering Free Spectrum broadband and WiFi access for 60 days in home with K-12 and/or college students that don’t have an existing Spectrum service level up to 100 Mbps.

Minnesota Computers for Schools – Lifelong Learners Program: Do you needed a computer but had no way of getting one? This may be a program to help. There is an application process, and the student would need a portion filled out by a Learning Partner/Counselor/Social Worker/Job Coach, etc.

PCs for People - This option provides the ability to provide low cost internet and computers to individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements. The internet access is provided with mobile hot-spots, which would allow students to take it wherever it is needed.

MIDCO Lifeline - Lifeline is a federal program intended to put home phone and internet service within the reach of qualifying families – giving low-income households affordable home phone or internet access.

City of Minneapolis Public Wifi- USI opened their WiFi network in Minneapolis for those that may need temporary internet access.Look for the “City of Minneapolis Public WiFi” or “USI Wireless” networks on your mobile device and you will be connected. The process is similar to using Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or the airport. No password or credit card is required to sign in. Contact USI Internet support for more information or to get help over the phone. Note: You need to be within 50 feet of the hotspots. Signal strength varies indoors. Please contact USI Internet support if you are experiencing problems.

Instructors can set up virtual meetings through Zoom Video Conferencing. They will place links to access the meetings within your D2L Brightspace courses. To initiate a meeting with an instructor, Zoom Cloud Meetings offer full video and audio conferencing capabilities with content sharing and cloud recording. Log in to Zoom Meetings to automatically create your account by clicking on the Sign In button with your StarID and password. Once logged in, download the Zoom Client for Meetings from the Zoom Download Center on your computer.

ONLINE LEARNING TIPS

Ask questions
Be sure to ask for clarification or discuss any course issues you may have, especially if you are new to online learning. Contact the additional resources provided for assistance as well, we are here to support you.

Study Environment
Find or create a space where you study best and create a routine so you have the time set aside and items that you need to stay organized - internet connection, books, headphones etc.

Create a schedule
Set aside enough time for each week’s work. Setting reminders on your phone or other devices can help you stay on task, use post it notes, keep a calendar.

Participate often
Participate with your peers and your instructor to stay connected in your course; share ideas, ask questions, offering feedback and working together are ways to maintain a supportive and active class environment.

Keep up!
Online is flexible but takes at least as much time as learning face-to-face, do not underestimate the time needed to complete your work. If you find yourself behind, contact your instructor right away for options, use their contact information. They are there to help you. It takes time and patience to create new habits.